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Arrow removed from goose months after first spotted

By The Associated Press

Updated:
07/11/2013 05:56:07 PM EDT

This 2013 photo provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources via The Bay City Times shows a Canada goose that was first spotted in April 2013 with an arrow protruding from its breast. (AP Photo/Michigan Department of Natural Resources via The Bay City Times)

BAY CITY, Mich. — Wildlife officials in Michigan have removed an arrow from a Canada goose more than two months after the injured bird was spotted, leaving the once-easily recognized bird to blend in once again with its fellow geese.

The female goose initially was seen wandering in downtown Bay City in April and people alerted the state Department of Natural Resources, expressing concern for its safety, MLive.com reported (http://bit.ly/131InlA ).

Officials initially decided not to remove the arrow, because the bird was able to fly without difficulty. The DNR again came across the goose at the end of June when biologists were banding geese and decided to take action.

"It really, actually, was a lucky chance that we were able to get that goose in the pen when we were rounding up geese to band them," Michigan DNR Wildlife Outreach Technician Holly Vaughn said. "That particular goose wasn't targeted. It just happened to be with the rest of the geese when our biologists were banding."

A biologist removed the arrow, banded the bird and let it go within about a half-hour, releasing it back into the Saginaw River.

"The arrow was able to move freely within the bird. The wound from the arrow itself had pretty much healed up around the arrow," Vaughn said. "They found that taking the arrow out wouldn't do any further damage."

Officials say the goose appeared to be OK afterward, and Vaughn said it "just went on its merry way."

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